HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP200800065 Review Comments Special Use Permit 2009-01-29COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
Division of Planning
(434) 296 — 5823
January 29, 2009
Mr. Bill Vincent
279 Tandem Lane
Charlottesville, VA 22902
RE: SP2008 -65 Tandem Friends School Classroom Trailer
Dear Mr. Vincent:
401 McIntire Road, Room 218
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 -4596
Fax (434) 972 - 4035
Staff has reviewed your initial submittal for a special use permit for a temporary classroom trailer
on the property to provide additional classroom space for the existing student body. Our comments
are consolidated below:
Planning
The 20' x 64' classroom trailer proposed north of the existing Upper School to accommodate
additional classroom space does not represent an increase in intensity but does serve to support
existing activities more efficiently. Tandem Friends School and the adjacent properties are zoned
R -1 Residential. The uses permitted by right under R -1 Residential directly support temporary or
mobile facilities such as schools, offices, parks, and playgrounds forestry. This Special Use Permit
will allow the school to expand and improve the service offered to its students and community. The
Planning Division can support the proposal.
Neighborhood Model
The Neighborhood Model describes the more "urban" form of development desired for the
Development Areas. It establishes the 12 Principles for Development that should be adhered to in
new development proposals. These principles are:
1. Pedestrian Orientation
2. Neighborhood Friendly Streets and Paths
3. Transportation Networks and Interconnected Streets
4. Parks and Open Space
5. Mixed Uses
6. Neighborhood Centers
7. Buildings and Spaces of Human Scale
8. Relegated Parking
9. Affordability with Dignity
10. Redevelopment
11. Site Planning that respects terrain
12. Clear boundaries with the Rural Areas
Staff has evaluated the proposed concept plan and of the above principles, two apply to this
application and appear to have been generally met. I have the following comments:
Pedestrian Orientation- The location of the building is pedestrian oriented, which is conducive to
a walkable community.
Redevelopment- This application constitutes further redevelopment of the site without intensifying
the use of the site.
Current Development
No changes are needed to the concept plan. Please be advised that if this Special Use Permit
amendment is approved, you will need to submit an application for a Minor Site Plan Amendment
and five copies of a site plan after the Board of Supervisors meeting. The minor site plan
amendment application will be administratively reviewed.
Zoning
No objection.
Engineering and Water Resources
No objection.
Building Inspections
Please submit documentation from the industrialized building manufacturer stating that the building
is designed for "educational" use, or provide equivalent engineering documentation stating that the
building is suitable for "educational" use prior to occupancy. The building appears to have been
designed and built for "office" use.
Fire and Rescue Division
If the Special Use Permit is approved, you will need to contact the Fire and Rescue Division for a
field inspection and verification for compliance with the Virginia Statewide Fire and Rescue Code.
ACSA
See Attachment A.
At this time, staff believes the following conditions are appropriate to the use:
1. The school's improvements and the scale and location of the improvements shall be
developed in general accord with the attached concept plan entitled, "Tandem Friends
School Campus Plan Study," prepared by VMDO Architects, and dated 12/4/08.
2. Total school enrollment and on -site staffing shall be limited to 260 persons; and
3. Additional buildings or increase in total enrollment/staffing must be authorized by a
new special use permit.
Because of the importance of the information on the building, we strongly recommend that you
submit the information requested by the Building Inspection Department before the public hearing
is scheduled. Once the public hearing is scheduled, we cannot process any additional information
regarding the request. Without the information on the building confirming that it is suitable for the
requested use, we likely would not be able to make a recommendation for approval.
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A public hearing with the Planning Commission will not be advertised until you advise us that the
project is ready to proceed to a public hearing. At that time, the legal advertisement will be run in
the newspaper and a staff report will be prepared to go to the Planning Commission.
Please be advised that, once a public hearing has been advertised, only one deferral prior to the
Planning Commission's public hearing will be allowed during the life of the application. The only
exception to this rule will be extraordinary circumstances, such as a major change in the project
proposal by the applicant or more issues identified by staff, that have not previously been brought
to the applicant's attention. As always, an applicant may request deferral at the Planning
Commission meeting.
Please feel free to contact me at 296 -5832 x 3029 if you wish to meet or need additional
information.
Sincerely,
Eryn Brennan
Senior Planner
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